Round baler arranged to facilitate the installation of endless baling elements

ABSTRACT

A large round baler includes a bale forming assembly and a chassis constructed as separate units which, when disconnected and displaced from each other either entirely at an interface between the units or by tilting one unit about a longitudinal axis at one side of the interface, permit one or more flexible endless baling elements to be mounted in place on the baling assembly. Cross beams, which extend between and interconnect the opposite side structures of the bale forming assembly are located such, that they do not obstruct the space required to slide the endless baling element(s) over the baling assembly and into engagement with the bale forming rolls. Mounting of the flexible endless baling element requires the removal of one or more baling element support rolls from opposite side structures of the baling assembly and/or from opposite arms of a tensioning assembly.

This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/032,622,filed 10 Jan. 2005 and titled ROUND BALER ARRANGED TO FACILITATE THEINSTALLATION OF ENDLESS BALING ELEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,548.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a round baler comprising a chassis and abaling assembly, whereas the baling assembly comprises side structuresseparated from each other, cross beams connecting the side structures,rolls rotatably journalled in these side structures and/or on atensioning arm and belts or the like, trained over said rolls and itrelates to a method to install endless belts on a round baler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO-A1-98/17097 discloses a round baler with side walls, rolls and belts,to the lower front end of which is attached a pick-up. In order toinstall the belts, they have to be finite and pulled at one end over allrolls and partly through gaps between adjacent rolls. When this is done,the ends of the belts are connected to each other. Since this work iscumbersome and since belt connectors are a source for costs and problemsit would be desirous to use endless belts.

The problem this invention is based on is the impossibility to installendless belts on such type of a baler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a large roundbaler constructed for facilitating the mounting of endless bale-formingbelts on the baler.

An object of the invention is to provide a large round baler constructedin such a way as to permit endless baling belts to be installed withoutnecessitating the separation of the endless belt loop.

This object is accomplished by arranging cross beam members in such away that they do not interfere with the mounting of the baling belts.According to this solution the circumferential sides (front, rear,bottom, up) of the baling assembly are free and endless belts can bemoved like a ring laterally over the baling assembly and thanconcentrated towards the bale chamber. No chassis cross beam and notying or net wrapping assembly obstruct the path of the belt(s). At theend, one or more releasably journalled rolls can be brought into theirposition, which apply the belts to the rolls already in place andtighten them. While it would be preferred to use belts, which are madeendless from the very beginning, finite belts, the ends of which areconnected can be used as well. Especially when a single and thus veryheavy belt is used a mechanized installation of belts by means of a forklift or the like is very advantageous. The side structure may be formedfrom side walls, i.e., sheet metal surfaces or by arms, by a frame ofthe like, as this is disclosed in EP-A1-1 308 078 or EP-A1-1 285 571.

Forming a baling assembly as a single and self-sufficient unit is eveneasier to do, if all other applying forces resulting from pulling theround baler over the field and from the weight and operation of allcomponents are assumed by a chassis with wheels and a tongue, to whichthe baling assembly is connected. In such a case interfaces are providedat the chassis and the baling assembly, which easily can get separated.As another advantage various baling assemblies may get connected to sucha chassis.

All known types of crop receiving and/or processing assemblies, likepick-ups, cutting means, windrowing means, humidifying means, etc. canbe attached to the carrying structure either alone or in combinationwith each other. Since they are not connected to the baling assemblydirectly, the belts can be moved like a ring over the baling assembly,once it is lifted from the chassis. Height adjustment devices, likehydraulic actuators would act between the carrying structure and therespective crop receiving and/or processing assembly to move it into oneor several operative positions and into an inoperative position.

Rather than to the baling assembly, if desired, bale handling assembliescan be attached to the carrying structure, like a bale wrapping means, abale weighing means, a bale unloading means, a bale tying or nettingmeans, etc., again either alone or in combination with each other. Inprior art round balers such bale handling assemblies would often beattached to the baling assembly and obstruct the way of belts moved as aring over the baling assembly.

Since with known balers it is normally a front part, which does not needadoption to another size or type of the rear part of the baler, itreduces assembly efforts, if said front part is fixed to the carryingstructure, whereas a rear part is adapted to and fixed to said frontpart. For example, a round baler may have a front part with differentsettings of rolls, to which may be attached one of a set of differentrear parts, with belts on rolls with different settings. This howeverdoes not exclude, that both—the front and the rear part—are attached tothe carrying structure, such that in the case of a round baler the rearpart is hinged to the carrying structure rather than to the front part.

The belts can be pressed onto the rolls and the lately installed rollsto press the belts on the rolls already in place, can be brought inplace in a fixed structure of the baling assembly, if some of the rollsare replaceable while the structures are in place, in particular bymeans of shafts or stub shafts connectable to a roll body.

Freeing the circumference of the baling assembly may happen bydisconnecting the whole baling assembly from the carrying structure andby lifting it therefrom by means of a crane or the like. Or access canbe provided, if the baling assembly is hinged to the carrying structuresuch, that it can be tilted laterally about an axis extendingsubstantially in the longitudinal direction of the baler. Lattersolution does not require a crane but could be performed also with ajack stand or hydraulic actuator. The baling assembly would alwaysremain connected to the carrying structure and could easily be returnedto the initial position.

A tilting movement or even a removal of the baling assembly from thecarrying structure is easy to accomplish, if the drives are easy todisconnect, like with chains, universal joint shafts, clutches etc.,when disconnection is needed. Alternatively hydraulic hoses andcouplings may be used. If the drives are present on the side, where thebaling assembly is hinged to the carrying structure, universal jointshafts, universal joints, hydraulic or electric cables or the like maybe provided, which can remain connected even when the baling assembly isin the tilted position.

A fast way to install endless belts on a baling assembly of a roundbaler is seen in following method, namely, a) the baling assembly is putinto a position in which the rolls are radially free to the outside, b)the belt is moved as a ring over the baling assembly, c) at least oneloop is formed by the belt and a roll is moved into this loop and fixedat the side structures to thereby apply the belt to the rolls, and d) atensioning device is applied to either moveable rolls and/or to a beltstrand between two rolls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereto after one embodiment of the invention is described in more detailand in relation to the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a baler in a schematic side view with the componentsdisassembled.

FIG. 2 shows the baler of FIG. 1 in a partly assembled stage with looseendless belts surrounding a baling assembly.

FIG. 3 shows the baler of FIG. 2, with the belts shown under tension.

FIG. 4 shows the baler of FIG. 2, with the baling assembly being shownmoved away from a carrying structure by a short distance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a baler 10, having a chassis 12, a baling assembly 14, acrop receiving and/or processing assembly 16 and a bale handlingassembly 18.

The baler 10 as shown is in the form of a round baler of the variablechamber type. The baler 10 is of the pull type, i.e., it gets attachedto a tractor (not shown) or the like and is pulled during operation andtransport.

The chassis 12 comprises a carrying structure 20, wheels 22 and a tongue24. The chassis 12 is of a self-carrying structure to which allassemblies of the baler 10 can be attached.

The carrying structure 20 is made of beams, traverses, struts, axles,cross beams, etc. welded or bolted together to form a rigid piece. Thecarrying structure 20 is formed such, that it can assume, in an innerspace or on its top side, the baling assembly 14, at its underside thecrop receiving and/or processing assembly 16, and, normally at the backside or above the crop receiving and/or processing assembly 16, a balehandling assembly 18. The bale handling assembly 18 could be installedon any place which fits the purpose. Flanges or other interfaceconnecting means are provided at places which are useful to receiveeither of the above assemblies 14, 16, 18. In the shown embodiment, thecarrying structure 20 extends under an angle of about 45 degrees to theground on which it stands and is connected to the tongue 24 at one endand to the wheels 22 at the other end. Two beams (only one shown) extendon each side in the longitudinal direction of the baler 10 and areinterconnected by means of cross beams (not shown). Provided at theunderside of the carrying structure 20 is a recess 26 to provideadditional space for the crop receiving and/or processing assembly 16.Such a recess 26 or additional space may not be needed in otherembodiments. While the carrying structure 20 here is shown in straightlines, it is obvious, that it may be of a different shape and layout,when this is necessary. Furthermore, the carrying structure 20 may beformed such that the baling assembly 14 is not fastened to its upperside, but is suspended from a portion high up. The carrying structure 20is also provided with electronic controls (not shown) and drives 56 inthe form of belts, chains, gears or hydraulic drives, whereas the oneshown comprises a bevel gear with an universal joint. In a slightoverlapping relationship to the wheels 22, a bottom roll 58 is rotatablyreceived by the carrying structure 20. This bottom roll 58 is orientedand located such that it can support a round bale formed in this balingassembly 14.

The wheels 22 are rotatably connected to the carrying structure 20either directly or via an axle (not shown). The wheels 22 may bearranged in tandem fashion, spring suspended or fixed, steerable orstraight and with or without brakes. The arrangement of the wheels 22 issuch that the baling assembly 14 in question can be readily connected tothe carrying structure 20.

The tongue 24 is connected to the front end area of the carryingstructure 20 in a vertically adjustable way. In other embodiments, thetongue 24 may be attached rigidly. Sufficient space is left below thetongue 24 and the carrying structure 20 to receive the crop receivingand/or processing assembly 16. Beyond that, the tongue 24 is of knownconstruction.

The baling assembly 14 is formed by a front part 28 and a rear part 30,which are connected to each other in a bearing 32 with a pivot axisextending horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal direction ofthe baler 10. The baling assembly 14 is substantially of a known type inthe form of a variable chamber round baler, in which a series of rolls34 is rotatably received in side structures 36 and whereas other rolls38 are carried by a tensioning arm 40 moving between end positionsagainst the resistance provided by a tensioning means 42, like a springor a hydraulic actuator. A hydraulic actuator 44 is provided to swingthe rear part 30 about the pivot axle of the bearing 32 between a raisedunload position and lowered baling position, as shown the drawings. Thisbaling assembly 14 is formed as a self-carrying unit, which can behandled during assembly, transport etc. as a single and independentpiece. For this purpose, struts and cross beams 46 are provided betweenand fixed to the side structures 36, to make the front and the rearparts 28 and 30, respectively, rigid units. The baling assembly 14 isprovided furthermore with a set of belts 48, running parallel withlittle distance to each other over the rolls 34 and 38. Unless the belts48 are manufactured in an endless fashion, the ends of the belts 48 areconnected to each other to make the belts 48 endless. In otherembodiments the belts may be replaced by a chain and slat conveyor or bya single belt. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the cross beams 46 are providedinside a space covered or surrounded by the belts 48 and close to afixed roll 34, such that, even with a completed bale in a bale chamber50, the belts 48 will not touch the cross beams 46. The location of thecross beams 46 is chosen such that, if the belts 48 are slid over thebaling assembly and are concentrated towards the bale chamber 50, theyare always in the shadow of the rolls 34 and are facing the inner sideof the belts 48 as opposed to their outer side. Some of the rolls 34′and 38′ are either made of multiple parts with a shaft or stub shaftsand a roll body, or they can be inserted through holes in one of theside structures 36. This location of the beams 46 and the use of suchrolls 34′, 38′ are reasons, why the belts 48 can be installed as will bedescribed later. The underside of the front part 28 forms an interfaceto be connected to the upper side of the carrying structure 20. In thisspecific embodiment, front and rear mounting or bearing plates 52 areprovided at each side of the carrying structure and include alignedopenings lying along a longitudinally extending tilt axis T. Fixed tolower edges of each of the opposite side structures 36 are front andrear pairs of mounting lugs 53 that are spaced for receiving the bearingplates 52 between them and when coupled to the bearing plates establisha hinge joint at the respective tilt axis T about which the balingassembly 14 can be tilted when the fasteners establishing the couplingbetween the front and rear plates 52 and lugs 53 at one side of thecarrying structure 20 and baling assembly 14 are removed.

The crop receiving and/or processing assembly 16 is formed as a pick-upwith a subsequent cutting device combined to a single unit. In otherembodiments it may be either of them or another crop receiving and/orprocessing assembly, like a mower. Usually this crop receiving and/orprocessing assembly 16 extends laterally beyond the carrying structure20 and has a rearward delivery opening to feed the crop into the balechamber 50. Contrary to the prior art, this crop receiving and/orprocessing assembly 16 is not connected directly to the baling assembly14 but to the carrying structure 20, where it is suspended in avertically moveable way, as this is known. Guide sheets or the like willbe provided, where necessary, to provide for a secure feeding of thecrop along the feed path, when the crop receiving and/or processingassembly 16 is adjusted in height. Interfaces (not shown) are providedat the underside of the carrying structure 20 and on the upper side ofthe crop receiving and/or processing assembly 16 to connect both to eachother, whereas connection may happen via fast connectors, bearings,flanges or the like.

The bale handling assembly 18 is shown as a bale ramp, on which a balecan roll down, once the rear part 30 is swung up. Instead of or inaddition to the bale handling assembly 18, a bale wrapper, a weighingdevice, a bale tying or netting device or the like could be attached tothe carrying structure 20. The connection between the bale handlingassembly 18 and the carrying structure 20 may be rigid or adjustable.The bale handling assembly 18 may include either means that is used tohandle or process the bale, as opposed to the crop not being formed to abale yet.

It is obvious from the above description, that various baling assemblies14 and crop receiving and/or processing assemblies 16 and/or balehandling assembly 18 can be attached to the underside, upper side orrear side of the carrying structure 20 respectively to form a series ofdifferent balers 10.

Reference is made to FIGS. 2 and 3 to describe the method for installingthe belts 48.

When new belts 48 have to be placed on the rolls 34, 38, either duringinitial production or for maintenance, the baling assembly 14 is eitherelevated relative to the mounting plates 52 to create a gap between thebaling assembly 14 and the carrying structure 20 and the crop receivingand/or processing assembly 16 and the bale handling assembly 18 (seeFIG. 4), or it is lifted completely for example by means of a fork liftor a crane, into a position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In thissituation, the circumferential surfaces of the baling assembly 14, i.e.its upper, lower, front and rear sides are freely accessible. All rolls34, 38 are in place except those shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 2 and 3,which is the most forward one 38′ on the tensioning arm 40 and the upperrearward one 34′ in the front part 28. Loops 54 of the belts 48 arecreated between pairs of opposite rolls 34, 38, whereas the removablerolls 34′, 38′ serve as idling points for these loops 54. In order toinstall the belts 48, they are made endless and are slid over the sidestructures 46 to surround the circumferential surfaces, as shown in FIG.2. As a next step, the missing rolls 34′ and 38′ are installed, whichwill tighten the loops 54 and apply all belts 48 to the adjacentsurfaces of the rolls 34, 38. Finally, the tensioning means 42 isactivated to provide for a tight connection. The situation in FIG. 4 iscomparable to the situation in FIG. 2, except that the distance betweenthe baling assembly 14 and the carrying structure 20 and the cropreceiving and/or processing assembly 16 and bale handling assembly 18 ismuch smaller and assumes a size which is needed in the case ofmaintenance or repair, which should be performed with the least efforts.A little distance of about 0.02-0.10 m should be sufficient to installthe endless belts 48 and can be reached by either lifting off the balingassembly 14 or by pivoting it about one or the other of the axes Trunning through the mounting plates 52.

Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent thatvarious modifications can be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

1. In a large round baler including a chassis, and a baling assemblyincluding a pair of transversely spaced side structures, cross beamsinterconnecting said side structures, a plurality of baling elementsupport rolls journalled in said side structures, a tensioningarrangement journalled in the side structures, further rolls extendingbetween and journalled in said tensioning arrangement with at least someof said plurality and further baling element support rolls beingreleasably mounted to the side structures, and at least one endlessflexible baling element being trained over said baling element supportrolls, the improvement comprising: said cross beams being located such,that they face an interior side of said at least one endless flexiblebaling element; said chassis being formed as a unit and including atongue, wheels and a carrying structure; said baling assembly beingformed as a unit; and a releasable connecting structure joining saidbaling assembly to said chassis said releasable connecting structuredefining at least one axis extending substantially in a longitudinaldirection of said baler and at one side of said baler so as to permitsaid baling assembly to be tilted laterally about said axis so as todefine a clearance gap between said baling assembly and chassis forpermitting a passage of said at least one flexible endless balingelement.
 2. The large round baler, as defined in claim 1, wherein atleast one of a crop receiving assembly or processing assembly is formedas a unit connectible to said chassis.
 3. The large round baler, asdefined in claim 1, and further including a bale handling assemblydefined by at least one of a bale wrapping assembly, a bale weighingassembly or a bale unloading assembly connectible to said chassis. 4.The large round baler, as defined in claim 1, wherein said balingassembly has a fixed front part and a rear part pivotally mounted tosaid front part; and said fixed front part having an interface with saidchassis; and said connecting structure being located at said interface.5. The large round baler, as defined in claim 1, wherein said at leastsome of said plurality of baling element support rolls and furtherbaling element support rolls, that are releasably mounted are releasablewhile the side structures are in place.